Ano Nuevo Preserve

Año Nuevo State Natural Reserve is one of the all time great California coastal attractions. The State funded and operated reserve is the site of the largest mainland breeding colony in the world for northern elephant seals.

The name Año Nuevo comes from Father Antonio de la Ascension, the chaplain of the Sebastian Vizcaino expedition of 1603 who first called the distinct point of land jutting out in to the Pacific “Punta de Año Nuevo” (New Year’s Point) due to the point having been first sighted on New Year’s day of that year.

Today, the California State Park System does its best to preserve the land much as it was when Father Antonio de la Ascension first noted it in his diaries. Which is why Elephant seals, sea lions, and other marine mammals come ashore to rest, mate, and give birth in the sand dunes or on the beaches and offshore islands. And why hundreds of thousands of people come to visit it each year.

The breeding season, December through March, is the height of the Año Nuevo visitation cycle.  At this time of year it’s possible to witness the giant male elephant seals battle each other for the right to mate, and the females go off into the dunes to give birth to their pups. You must make reservations at least a year in advance to tour the Reserve during the breeding season.

A little tip from the Pescadero-California admin, the hike out to see the seals is a bit of a trek. Be prepared to walkabout a mile and a half in loose sand, and probably work up a sweat doing it. Then, once out on the beach, you’ll come to appreciate the fact that you’re about a mile ‘out to sea’ when the (almost always) chilly wind buffets you and your most likely sweaty clothes. So bring a windbreaker of some sort. You’ll thank me for it.

For more information and to make online reservations visit the official California State Parks Año Nuevo SNR website:

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=523

Links to more cool or useful Año Nuevo information:

  • California State Park Podcast – Año Nuevo SNR
  • Panaramas of Año Nuevo and surrounding area (must have QuickTime player)
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